Toronto

Daniel Libeskind's new Crystal Wing at the Royal Ontario Museum shines

The new wing of the Royal Ontario Museum, Canada's largest for world cultures and natural history, makes a bold departure from the original fortresslike structure made up of early-20th-century buildings north of Queen's Park. Designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal is a 175,000-square-foot aluminum- and glass-covered structure composed of five interlocking prisms nestled within the footprint of the historic buildings. The result: a design that shows how history and innovation intertwine. Inside the Crystal are seven permanent galleries and the soon-to-be-opened Crystal Five Restaurant Lounge (416/586-8000, rom.on.ca).